External Program Review Committee (EPRC) Minutes
Date: April 2, 2026
DSD liaisons: Jessica Little, Stacie Enders and Ari Dionisopoulos
Type: Whole committee
Attendance: Jodi Greenstein, Kim Frost, Daniel Baker, Melanie Eidsmoe, Lindsay Nash, Laura Daire, Sharon Momanyi
Agenda items
Public comments
There were no public comments during this meeting.
Vote
The committee voted on the minutes from March 2026:
· Dan Baker: Yes
· Laura Daire: Yes
· Melanie Eidsmoe: Yes
· Brenda Kinney: absent
· Kim Frost: Yes
· Antonina Puente: Absent
· Jodi Greenstein: Yes
· Lindsay Nash: Yes
· Sharon Momanyi: Yes
Updates to share
Regional positive support capacity building meetings
Stacie will be visiting the statewide meeting to discuss intervention services redesign.
Simplify and organize online DHS materials and training resources related to positive support services
No current updates.
Intervention services redesign
Draft of the proposed service has been posted. Survey will be divided into categories such as covered services, eligibility, etc. Stacie Enders reviewed the draft of the proposed service, “specialized services”
Direct care workforce shortage
Bills related to workforce shortage:
AASD and DSD eList: Share feedback about LTSS: The Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Advisory Council is charged with finding “cost savings reforms,” which might affect the workforce. – Designed to provide opportunity for feedback.
DHS system updated to pay new tiered rates to accommodate worker retention component
System updated to pay new tiered PCA and CFSS agency rates effective Jan. 1, 2026
Article: Two Harbors hospital launches CNA training program amid rural healthcare crisis
Two Harbors hospital launches CNA training program amid rural healthcare crisis
Northeast Minnesota sees number of jobs decline over 2025, but an increase in healthcare and social assistance jobs
Healthcare and social assistance jobs grew more than other industries, mirroring national trends with an aging population. The Latest and Greatest in Northeast Minnesota’s Employment and Wage Trends
RFP for a grantee to administer training registrations and stipend distribution for direct support workers
AASD and DSD eList: RFP for a grantee to administer training registrations and stipend distribution
Received approval to create a new eList for direct care professionals. Aiming to have that ready by this summer. We already have 110,000 emails to send out. Will define DSP specifically for this eList.
Subcommittee updates
Requests for approval subcommittee
This subcommittee has been conducting business as usual. Preparing for the additional monitoring after a phase-out attempt.
Emergency use of manual restraint subcommittee
This subcommittee has been conducting business as usual.
Discussion
Annual goal
The committee’s goal is: Create and maintain training materials as needs are discovered and as project opportunities emerge. Some projects may include: PSTP examples, reinforcement (token) programs, implementing Minnesota Rule 9544 for 245D-licensed providers, trainings for specific behaviors or disorders (PICA, fecal smearing, self-harm ingestion), and relating that to state regulations.
PSTP examples: There are options for accessible designs.
New goal discussion:
Workforce specific projects the EPRC members could assist with:
Jessica will draft new goal for 2026 for committee review.
EPRC Annual report draft is planned to be ready by May meeting
Meeting attendance:
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